Press Release

State House Protesters Brutalized By Police

Friday, 11 May 2012, 2:52pm
Press Release: Socialist Aotearoa

Over thirty police officers brutally shut down a protest of around a hundred protesters late last night. The protesters were trying to stop an empty state house from being removed from the property.

Four protesters were arrested around 11pm. Many more were pushed, choked and dragged to the ground in a show of police brutality. Veteran activist John Minto was one of those arrested. Two weeks ago police broke three of his ribs in a related protest.

Veteran state housing activist, Jimmy O’Dea, was thrown to the ground by police and knocked unconscious. He was taken by ambulance to hospital where he is being monitored and is in a neck-brace.

Housing New Zealand is selling 156 state houses in Glen Innes to private developers. Many of the tenants have lived in their homes for decades. HNZ started removing houses from the properties two weeks ago.

The Tamaki Housing Action Group was formed last September to resist the eviction of Glen Innes community members and the privatization of state houses. With strong community support, tenants have vowed to stay in their homes.

ENDS